While Mr Chua, who works for a bank, admitted they had their share of detractors who say the dance form isn't for men, he felt the only way to change such views was to get the critics to watch their performances.

'When they watch us, they change their perspective almost instantly,' said Mr Chua, who picked up pole dancing this year. 'In a way, it's education.'

While most local dance studios The New Paper on Sunday spoke to didn't have pole dancing classes for men, Jitterbugs Singapore offers ad-hoc dance workshops for men.

Ms Fen Tonge, 36, its chief financial officer, said the studio has had classes for about 10 men in the one year since it started offering pole dancing. Groove Dance School and SensUal Joy Lifestyle Studio offer pole dance courses for women, but not men.

Said Groove's director, who wanted to be known only as Miss Fi: 'We strongly feel that this should still be reserved for ladies simply because it's a great course for fitness, empowerment. Plus, part of the X-factor is that it's a course for women by women.'

However, she added that a course exclusively for men could be considered.

Impressed

Although more men are starting to take up the dance form, it remains to be seen if audiences will appreciate the sight of the masculine form executing moves like the carousel and the corkscrew on the pole.

Mr Matt Hobbs, 33, in the aviation industry, is one of the few who appreciated the male dancers' performance on Thursday.

He said: 'It's very impressive, I didn't know men could pole dance.'

He joked: 'If I had muscles like Jose, it would certainly be worth trying.'

Miss Ava Lim, a sales executive in her late 20s, said: 'Having guys on the pole who are muscular and well-built is really sexy.'

However, it was clear that not all men were convinced. Mr Rajne Sharma, 25, a British trader, made a beeline for the bar every time the male performers came on just to avoid watching them.

He said: 'I don't think you should ever have guys pole dancing, that's just wrong. Pole dancing is meant for women.'

Age is no barrier

JUDGING by the performers at the Asia Pacific Pole Dancing Competition on Thursday, pole dancing may no longer be exclusively for young women.

While the younger women competed in the solo and team events, there were performances not only by men, but also a trio of pole-dancing mothers who are all over 50 years old.

Calling themselves the Ladybirds, Ms Tan Li Leng, 51, an agency head at NTUC Income, Mrs Annie Kwan, 52, co-owner of a jewellery business and Madam Meiyin Ong, 50, a hotel manager, gave the younger dancers a run for their money.

Said the outspoken Ms Tan: 'Some of my friends think it's sleazy but it isn't like that at all.

'Pole performances like these help to show the public that it's a lot about fitness, technique and strength.'

Their performance in sexy red cheongsams drew enthusiastic applause as did the youngest performers - a trio of girls, aged 8 to 10.

When it comes to pole dancing, Ms June Joy Leng, 29, of the exclusively female SensUal Joy Lifestyle Studio, thinks it doesn't matter whether one is young or old, man or woman.

She said: 'If the calling is strong why not? Pole dancing can be very vigorous and acrobatic, so it's not for everyone.

'But if you are physically able and can get past the sleazy pole dancing stereotype, I see no reason why anyone should be stopped from doing it.'